On Wednesday, Lebanon’s parliament made its 12th attempt to elect a president but failed to do so. Neither Suleiman Frangieh, the candidate backed by Hezbollah, nor former finance minister Jihad Azour obtained enough votes to win in the first round of voting.
The failed vote will deepen sectarian tensions in Lebanon, already mired in one of the world’s worst economic crises and facing unprecedented political paralysis with its cabinet only partially empowered and its legislature fractured.

Wednesday’s parliamentary session ended after lawmakers from Hezbollah and allied party Amal walked out following the first round of voting, denying the chamber the quorum it needed to continue into a second round.